Lindsay Lawler Interview

by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

 

Lamitschka: Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?

LindsayLawler:  I am originally from Texas, by way of Oklahoma and lived in Los Angeles for 5 years before I finally settled in Nashville. I have sang and performed all of my life.  But these past few years, while living in Music City, I have formed a partnership with the trucking industry and now travel the country playing trucking conventions and making music that speaks to the truck drivers out there on the road every day.  The songs however, are relatable to all country music fans, but I’m hoping to bring an awareness to an industry that often gets a bad reputation.  It is however made up of the kindest, most loyal, hardworking people I have ever met.  And it’s been an honor to perform for these folks.  I was also recently named the official spokesperson of the Truckload Carriers Association’s non-profit program “Highway Angel” and wrote the title song for the program.  It’s been such a fulfilling program for me to be a part of and I look forward to honoring the Highway Angels out there who save lives and perform extraordinary acts out on the road!

Lamitschka: What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?

LindsayLawler: You can currently find my latest EP, “The Long Haul” as well as my debut CD “Train Wreck” on Itunes, as well as through many trucking websites.  The EP features “Highway Angel” which I am the spokesperson for, “For the Long Haul” which I wrote for Women In Trucking, and a new version of my signature song “Train Wreck” which a fun song to have a beer and dance to!  You can find all of my music at www.lindsaylawler.com

Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?

LindsayLawler: I write most of my music myself, primarily along with my producer, Chris Roberts, who is a writer and artist at Warner Chapel Nashville.  We get to hear so many amazing stories from drivers all over the world as we travel and perform at truck shows, so we are currently finding inspiration from real life stories.  I’m always looking for good music however and am happy to record a song, no matter who wrote it, if it speaks to myself and my audience!

Lamitschka: What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what’s the story behind it?

LindsayLawler: My favorite song I’ve recorded, so far, is a duet with Chris Roberts called “He Loves the Road.”  The song was written for the former chairman Gary Salisbury of TCA, the national trucking association I work with.  Gary became a truck driver when he was 18 years old and has been driving ever since, even though he now runs his own trucking company, Fikes Truck Lines.  Gary, along with many drivers, struggles with loving being on the road and also having a family and life back home.  It’s a song that drivers, or anyone who has to leave home for their job or passion, can relate to.  The road
calls you, but then you call home and remember the physical love you’re missing out on every time you take a new journey.  It’s a constant struggle, but it’s always great to go, and great to return.  I think many can relate to this song, and it’s my favorite song to perform live.

Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your music?

LindsayLawler:  I am beyond blessed that I get to write and record what I want, and work with who I want.  It’s the beauty in running your own camp!!  I am funded primarily through sponsorships, but  credit TCA as my record label, as they have helped in producing my past record along with my current music video of “Highway Angel.”  It’s a partnership that has been mutually beneficial as they have given me a platform and backing to produce my message, as well as a captive, loyal audience.  And I am becoming a face and voice for TCA, and for truck drivers in general, by spreading a positive word and image through music.  I now am launching my own radio show that will be all things trucking and country music where I look forward to marrying the two worlds.  I will continue to sing, literally, praises of the trucking family as long as I have the means and voice to do so.  It’s been the most exciting journey I’ve ever taken and I owe so much to these great people!

Lamitschka: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?

LindsayLawler: I’m hoping to continue to change the perception that you have to be signed to a major label in order to be successful in this business.  I consider myself beyond successful in that I’m doing  that I love and making a living from it.  And all the while not compromising who I am, where I come from or why I got into this business in the first place.  I love performing and writing, and most especially meeting the good people who listen to my music and keep me going every day.  My goal is to one day start my own label, where the artists have full control of what they sing, how they sing it and who they work with.  It’s been my very simple roadmap and is working just fine for me.  It takes time, but I think everyone should be the artist they were meant to be, and only they can find out who that is by  expressing themselves through their innate craft.

Lamitschka: As an artist, you so many tasks such as recording, touring, interviews. What do you like best, what’s your favorite activity?

LindsayLawler: I love more than anything to be on stage and run around!  I’ve been called a tazmanian devil on stage and a firecracker…and I love both of those!!  Being on stage and looking directly into the eyes of people there to see you perform is the most amazing rush, especially when people in the crowd know the lyrics to your songs.  There’s just nothing better.  Except for….after shows when you get to actually talk to and connect with the crowd.  It brings it all back to why we do what we do, which is to provide some entertainment and escape to the audience, and hopefully tell their stories in a way they  aren’t able to express.  To me, that’s the biggest blessing the Lord has given me, and excites me like nothing else!

Lamitschka: Are you doing anything to take music beyond its current borders or are you happy where it is?

LindsayLawler: I certainly am!!  I just inked a deal to host my own radio show on Renegade Radio Nashville (www.renegaderadionashville.com) which is every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8 PM Central.  It will include a Highway Angel segment, a health and wellness segment with tips on staying healthy on the road, celebrities both in and out of the trucking industry, and a dedication segment where drivers can request songs for their loved ones back home.  It will of course also have a music segment each week with live music from some of Nashville’s biggest singers and songwriters.  And you know I will play the heck out of my own music of course as well!! 🙂

Lamitschka: Before you became a star, were your friends and family supportive or was it a struggle?

LindsayLawler: My family is the greatest support network I have ever known.  I’m blown away by all they have done to help me achieve my dreams and at risk of sounding cliche, I truly truly truly would not be where I am today and able to pursue my dreams without my parents, sister and brother-in-law, grandmother and great aunt, and sweet husband.  All of my extended family and friends as well have played a huge role in my development, and one day I will somehow find a way to make it up to them all.  I thank God every single day that he chose such a loving family for me.  I know they don’t always understand what I’m doing, or why I do it, or probably where I come from!  My family is very practical so going down the road I have chosen is quite the stretch.  But they keep trucking right along with me
and are my biggest fans. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Lamitschka: When you get time off, how do you like to relax?

LindsayLawler:  My husband and I both travel a lot for work, so when we are both off we love to throw dinner parties with good friends, visit our families in Dallas and Cape Cod, MA, and often go out to hear our good friends perform around town.  We also love the lake, and have two pugs (Bono and Lil Bit) who we often make up songs about.  It’s nerdy, but not a day goes by that we don’t sing songs around the house about the pugs.  They look like aliens and constantly make me laugh!

Lamitschka: Is there ny place you haven’t played that you would like to?

LindsayLawler: I want to play everywhere…..if there is a stage I haven’t been on, I want to get on it!!  But my dream, of course, would be to sing on stage at the Grand Ole Opry.  Sure can’t beat that as a country artist!!  And, I’m a huge Oklahoma Sooner fan….so it would be fun to perform at one of their football games!

Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?

LindsayLawler: You can find info on me at www.lindsaylawler.com.
Also, like me at www.facebook.com/lindsaylawlerfans.
You can hear my radio show at www.renegaderadionashville.com.
And, finally, I have a blog, Long Hauler Lawler, that can be seen at www.longhaulerlawler.typepad.com.
Check me out!!!

Christian Lamitschka (
CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com
)